Dig deep.
If it’s not already, that should become first-year Brookside coach Keith Grabowski’s mantra this season because the young Cardinals face some tough odds.
Senior Paul Grattan, 5-foot-11, 220-pound center and defensive tackle, is the team’s only returning starter, while junior quarterback/safety Rocky Radeff (6-0, 185), senior tailback/defensive back Alberto Mendoza (5-8, 160) and senior wide receiver/safety Dan Wise (6-0, 170) are the only other returning lettermen from a team that went 2-8 overall, 1-6 in the Patriot Athletic Conference Stars Division.
It’s a stark contrast from a year ago, when Brookside had 18 returning lettermen, including 14 starters.
This season, Brookside has 39 players in grades 10-12 to go with 20 freshmen.
“The main thing is we want to the players is to believe in themselves and believe in what we’re doing,” Grabowski said. “First and foremost, they are working in a way that they believe what’s going on. We’re a young team. We’ll probably end up starting nine sophomores.”
Senior fullback/linebacker Devin Golak (5-10, 190), senior two-way tackle Brett Harmon (6-4, 280), senior two-way tackle Sean Harmon (5-11, 220) and senior offensive tackle/defensive end James Seiler (6-3, 240) are other seniors with key roles.
Tailback/linebacker Jason Bodenski (5-5, 155), tight end/linebacker Dave Horner (6-0, 180), tailback/defensive back Art Howell (5-10, 160) and offensive guard/defensive tackle Austin Tackett (5-11, 175) are sophomores likely to step up and start.
The offensive scheme underwent significant changes from last year.
“We basically operated out of a wing-T formation through the end of last year,” Grabowski said. “Right now, we’re using a one back and spread. So far, things have gone well. Everyone knows it’s a fresh start. We’re back to square one. The players understand that they have to come out and earn their job. They’re doing a great job with that.
“The offensive line is made up mostly of seniors. They block well, they come off the ball hard. We have some nice running backs. They’re quick even though they’re not very big.”
The Cardinal defense is also new.
“The defense ran a 5-3 and a 4-4 last year,” Grabowski said. “Right now, we’re running a 4-3, so there’s significant change there, too. Defensively, we might be a little undersized, but we’re trying to get guys out there that can use their quickness, run a little bit and chase things down.”
Grabowski coached at Amherst from 2002-06 before switching to Brush last year. He led the Comets to the Division II playoffs in 2004 after finishing the regular season 9-1.
“It’s different here in a lot of ways than some of the places I’ve been,” Grabowski said. “The facilities may have been a little better and the schools maybe a bit bigger, but when it comes down to it and you get down on the field, kids are kids and football is football. You go out there and coach and have fun and try to make the athletes better players and better people.”
Grabowski immediately began working with players on conditioning as soon after he was hired in the spring. The team typically conditioned for two hours a day, three days a week.
“There’s a challenge at any place today,” Grabowski said. “We’re trying to provide leadership for the kids. We talk about our objectives all the time: win football games and develop good people. We work on both of those things every day.”
Brookside also has five new assistants: defensive coordinator Mike Passerrello, linebacker/receivers coach Mick Reilly, quarterback/defensive backs coach Mickey Mental, line coach Shawn Halek and volunteer coach Jay Bender, who also helps with receivers and defensive backs.
Passarello, a former Amherst assistant, helped at Oberlin College last year. Reilly assisted Grabowski at Brush last year. A 2004 Olmsted Falls graduate, Mental was a three-year starter for B-W at quarterback.
Contact Paul Heyse at 329-7135 or phheyse@aol.com.

BROOKSIDE CARDINALS

CONFERENCE: Patriot Athletic, Stars Division
2007 RECORD: 2-8, 1-6 Stars Division
COACH: Keith Grabowski, first year (31-31 overall)
RETURNING LETTERMEN: 4
BY THE NUMBERS
16 — Total touchdowns the Cardinals scored last season, averaging 10.8 points per game.
3 — Times Brookside was shut out in 2007.
1 — Returning starters.
FAST FACT
Brookside has won its last foive straight season openers, including three straight over Firelands.

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